Page 156 of The Black Flamingo

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“Mikey, here’s your drink,” says Lennie,

handing me what I assume must be a rum

and Coke, carrying on from what we were

drinking at Kim’s flat. “Who are you two

checking out?”

“He’s gone. We thought we saw a guy

we both went to school with. But I can’t see

him now.”

My face must be showing all my emotion

because Lennie asks, “Why don’t you go

look for him? Where did you last see him?”

I think of school and him

waving at me from the soccer cage.

“It’s too packed in here to find anyone.

We’ve already lost your cousin.”

Lennie laughs. “Kim’s not lost, she’s

in there, exactly where she wants

to be, trust me. She’s a ladies’ man.

The stories she’s told me. She’s a player.

A real heartbreaker.”

I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Excuse me,”

he says, close to my ear, and I turn to him.

“Michael? You’ve cut your hair, but I recognized

you from all the way over there.”

Kieran is wearing a tight black top and I

can see the outline of his pecs and the top

of his abs. His jeans are black and tight,

his shoes are black boots, maybe suede.

“Kieran, yeah, hi. Remember Daisy?”

I’m nervous, I don’t know what to say to him.

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